Belt, as he prepares for third opening day: “I want to reach my potential.”

Brandon Belt insists that he has never lost a race at the community pool in Nacogdoches, Texas, thanks in large part to his size 15 feet.

“When you’ve got flippers like that in the back,” he said, “You’ve got some good acceleration in the water.”

Belt also claims to be hard to beat on the ping pong table and says that nobody in the clubhouse could top him in a game of one-on-one basketball. Finally, Belt explains that he has a full-proof plan for his post-baseball career. An eighth-grade hip dislocation ended his run as a placekicker, but Belt thinks he has what it takes to head back to college and be a punter.

“Once again, the feet play into it,” he pointed out, smiling wide. “I know people don’t expect me to be good at anything because I look goofy and awkward. But I sneak up on them.”
Belt snuck up on baseball in 2010, posting a .455 on-base percentage and hitting 23 homers across three levels to shoot up prospect lists. Over the next two seasons, the sport returned the favor with a series of ups and downs.

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The struggles at the plate were hard for Belt to handle at times, and it didn’t help that he spent the 2011 season becoming familiar with the roads between San Francisco and Fresno. Too good for the minors but too inconsistent in the big leagues, Belt felt his career hit a crossroads moment last summer during a road trip through Atlanta and Philadelphia. The kid with the discerning eye and sweet swing had one hit in 20 at-bats on the trip, striking out eight times and looking generally lost at the plate.

On the flight back to San Francisco, Belt stared down at those size 15 feet and contemplated his big league future. He realized that in an effort to avoid another trip to the minors, he had started obsessing over his own stats.

“I was worried quite a bit, because it was a year, honestly, of just playing terribly,” Belt said. “Once you get that low, you kind of think to yourself that you need to get your stats up if you want to hang around any longer.”

As the flight soared over the Midwest, something clicked. Belt says he has always played his best when he looks at wins, not walks, homers and other individual stats, and he decided that he would do the same the rest of the season, regardless of how long slumps might last.

“That’s a real long flight, so you have a lot of time to think,” he said, laughing. “I just said, ‘Screw going out there and worrying about numbers all the time.’ I was fed up with it, so I put all my focus on the team.”

As it turned out, Belt didn’t need to worry all that much about his status. The Giants knew they had put Belt in a tough spot with the lack of a consistent role, and they also knew that Belt remained the best option at first base.

“He’s been great at handling all that we’ve thrown at him,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “At his young age, he dealt with it as well as you can.”

Immediately following the tough trip, Bochy gave Belt a day to clear his head. From then on, the Giants had a force at first base. Belt hit .328 from July 24 to the end of the season and improved his power numbers while providing his usual strong defense at first.

Belt knows it’s a cliché to say that “playing for the team” turned his 2012 season around. He also knows it worked.

“I was putting too much pressure on myself,” he said. “You can’t play like that. The game is already hard enough.”

As he plays through his first spring as an everyday first baseman, Belt is making it look easy. After the second-half turnaround and a significant postseason role, Belt knows what he needs to do from the start this season, and he knows what he is capable of.

“I want to reach my potential,” he said.

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The Giants are counting on it. As National League rivals rebuilt and reloaded, the Giants opted to bring their championship squad back. Any improvements will have to come from within, and few have more room for growth than Belt, who finished last season with his usual high on-base percentage (.360) but just seven homers.

“He continues to learn as a hitter, and the better hitter he becomes, the more power you’re going to see,” general manager Brian Sabean said. “And he’s very much on the path to being a Gold Glove first baseman.

I would be in favor of trading Pill *if* it creates a scenario where there’s a yo-yo act going on with Brandon Belt’s playing time. The guy has earned his spot (based upon 2nd half of season), so leave him alone. If Pill was that good, other teams would be beating down the door to get him from the Giants.

Pill is Belt’s depth in AAA. I believe he has one option year left. I don’t know who would play first in Fresno if Pill was traded to MilleeWalkay. But it’s good to have someone pushing Belt. I’m sure he knows how to self-motivate, but it’s nice have someone behind him to keep him honest. Besides, can’t let Belt get too cocky. He does seem a bit cocky when it comes to hoops and ping pong and football and swimming. A 95 mph fastball on the hands should remind him that hitting in MLB is tuff.

Pill is a CSUF Titan, just like Gary Brown. And Fullerton is my hometown! Woo hoo!!

Foothills Ryan

Pill is Belt’s depth in AAA. I believe he has one option year left. I don’t know who would play first in Fresno if Pill was traded to MilleeWalkay. But it’s good to have someone pushing Belt. I’m sure he knows how to self-motivate, but it’s nice have someone behind him to keep him honest. Besides, can’t let Belt get too full of himself. He does seem a bit over confident when it comes to hoops and ping pong and football and swimming. A 95 mph fastball on the hands should remind him that hitting in MLB is tuff.

Pill is a CSUF Titan, just like Gary Brown. And Fullerton is my hometown! Woo hoo!!

Belt has a little edge – I like that. It isn’t just dumbo the elephant or awkward the giraffe or whatever. Besides, he’s got a sweet glove tested at the highest levels. Boche doesn’t just throw out the “gold glove’ compliment. We all hope he gets his offensive stats up, but all these young players take time.

As for Pill, I liked him at the end of the year in 2011, but pitchers found his holes and I didn’t see him adjust and that may be that. He may be one of those AAAA-type players.

Nate’sFanMom

Bochy almost wrecked Brandon Belt.

Almost.

Bochy: good strategist; horrible handler of young players.

KezarMike

I don’t think there’s any doubt that Belt has the physical ability to be a top player. Now, we’ll see if he has the temperment to be a steady player. .320 average? 20 HRs? Yeah, he could do that if he fulfills his potential. (don’t hear that phrase much anymore – now it’s all “upside”)

I’m rooting for Pill. He brings some power off the bench, which we don’t have much of anywhere, and while he is not a top defensive player, he can play many positions in a pinch.

2holehitting

If Andres T can yank 15, Belt better be good for 20+ and 270. I feel better about Short than first. Scutero is a worry as well. Yes he hit 370 but he is career 260ish.

SurfCity

Scutaro – with an “a.” Most misspelled name in these comments.

=====

Nate’s Fan Mom – yep. And he finally admitted how the yo-you thing was detrimental. Not on purpose, but Bochy made a mess of that. I think and hope Bochy has learned from that. I see some commenters still have not, but Bochy is smarter than them, thankfully.

primetimedonna

Seems like time to drop the Bochy ruined Belt talk. Belt is developing at his own pace. He needed to be able to figure things out for himself, and it seems he is doing that.

SurfCity

Donna, Bochy set Belt back in my opinion. No commenter here today said what you claim, that Bochy ruined Belt. But even Bochy himself has admitted that the yo-you effect hurt Belt. And Bochy has praised Belt for handling that adversity.

JStreet

Agreed it was tough on Belt. And Bochy seems to have gotten that. But to brand him as “horrible” with young players, that’s a bit much.

Couple of examples: Pablo Sandoval. Still young, has had mucho problems (including bench during 2010 WS). Lad now has two rings, WS MVP, All Star. And he’s still young! And still needs managing… Here’s another, the other Brandon, Crawford. Still a work in progress, but aren’t they all. Has Gold Glove ability, and maybe more. Beginning of last year was no picnic for him either. Hector, has possibilities..

Best of all, and still young. Buster Posey. No comment.

It’s easy to gang up on a manager and say he “ruins” young players. But while you’re ganging, take a look at those trophies..

channelclemente

Nate’s,

BS.

OnTheFly

They screwed Pill when they only let him against hit lefties. Should have been given the fair shot that Belt was given. But who ever said life was fair?

ssssss

~Belt can hit a beach ball and make a bunch of errors with his 1B mitt!!!!~~~

primetimedonna

Surf

Sorry I said ruined…..Nate’s fan’s Mom used the word wrecked. Other than that, i stand by what I said. Time to let it go, and Brandon was not wrecked. Many players have survived trips back and forth to the minors and gone on to be great players. Having survived any adversity, and worked on his hitting issues, I’m sure Brandon will do the same. But ENOUGH is ENOUGH of the Bochy blame. Brandon is here, getting his shot, and it is up to him whether he develops into a top tier player.

http://Contracostatimes PerSpeier35

Wow, Pill had a zero average on the middle square of the hot zone; that is hard to believe for a non pitcher. It’s the sign of a pure guess hitter who doesn’t guess very well. Too bad, the team could use some RH pop over there or off the bench.

“Looking generally lost at the plate” regarding Belt’s slump last year is putting it mildly. In 40 years I don’t ever remember a position player looking so consistently overmatched at the plate . Maybe LeMaster came close. Anyway, glad he got over that hump, I thought he was a goner.